Muslim man murders pregnant prostitute because she was working near a mosque

Mariana Popa was six weeks pregnant when she was knifed by Farooq Shah Romanian was trying to earn money to support family when she was killed Shah stabbed her after warnings not to work near mosque in Ilford, Essex The 21-year-old tried to claim in court that he was victim of mistaken identity But he was found guilty by jurors and will spend 29 years in jail for murder

By Julian Robinson

Published: 16:56 GMT, 27 June 2014 | Updated: 20:15 GMT, 27 June 2014

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A Muslim who stabbed a pregnant Romanian prostitute to death after warning her not to work near a mosque was jailed for at least 29 years today.

Farooq Shah, 21, plunged a knife into Mariana Popa’s chest while riding his bicycle along a stretch of road notorious for sex workers.

Miss Popa, 24, had been in Britain for just three weeks and was trying to earn the money to support her family when she was stabbed in Ilford, Essex.Farooq Shah, 21, plunged a knife into Mariana Popa's chest while riding his bicycle along a stretch of road notorious for sex workers+4Miss Popa, 24, had been in Britain for just three weeks and was trying to earn money to support her family when she was stabbed in Ilford, Essex+4

Farooq Shah, left, plunged a knife into Mariana Popa, right, while riding his bicycle along a stretch of road notorious for sex workers

She staggered into Chicken & Pizza 4U in Ilford Lane and collapsed in a pool of blood as her killer rode away on his bike.

The mother-of-one was six weeks pregnant with her second child when she bled to death.

CCTV footage showed Shah waiting on the forecourt of a BP garage close to where prostitutes were working on Ilford Lane late on October 28.

Miss Popa could then be seen to walk towards him and speak to him before he stabbed her twice in the chest.

Prosecutors believe Shah was warning Miss Popa to leave the area - and she paid with her life when she refused.

Shah’s distinctive appearance exactly matched that of the killer - but he claimed he was the victim of mistaken identity.

He was found with another stolen mobile when he was arrested for the murder of Miss Popa.CCTV images shown in court captured the moment Mariana Popa was confronted by Farooq Shah near his local mosque in Ilford, Essex+4

CCTV images shown in court captured the moment Mariana Popa was confronted by Farooq Shah near his local mosque in Ilford, Essex

Shah claimed he was at home watching an episode of Family Guy at the time of the killing after returning from a party in Plaistow drunk and high from smoking cannabis.

He said a mystery man approached him on the street while on his way home and sold him the phone.

Judge Christopher Kinch QC jailed Shah for life and ordered he serve at least 29 years behind bars.

The judge said: ‘It was an utterly terrible attack which inevitably led to her death. It was carried out with callous indifference on a defenceless woman. Mariana Popa did not stand a chance.’

‘Did you ask her to go with you? Did you offer her money? Did she say no because you had a bike and didn’t even have a car?Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Farooq Shah from the night he murdered Romanian sex worker Mariana Popa, 24+4